Yes, there is such a thing as a free lunch

Some people are struggling financially while others are trying to build wealth. These are the questions they've asked.

Lu and Fred: I have heard about people being paid to be "mystery shoppers" and getting free meals and trips. Is this really possible or is this a scam?

Elaine: I know a lot of people are going to be glad you asked this question. Yes, there are legitimate mystery shopper companies that pay you to try their services and refund you the money you spend on the meals, trips etc. With that said, let me tell you about the thousands of secret shopper scams that are out there and how to avoid them. Then I will tell you how to contact bona fide secret shopper organizations to receive free meals and other perks and be paid for your evaluations of these organizations.

First rule to remember, no legitimate secret shopper organization will ask you for money upfront. This is tantamount to an employer asking you to pay him to give you a job. You will see this quite frequently on the Internet and newspaper ads. The organizations receiving the funds are not the secret shopper organizations, but third parties who have compiled a list of these organizations.